Features

Buzzing to be here

Posted:
Wed 10 Jul 2013
Author: rovers.co.uk

Matt Kilgallon

Image by: rovers.co.uk

Rovers new boy Matt Kilgallon believes he is joining a team on the up.

The central defender, who has signed a two-year deal at Ewood Park, was impressed with what he saw of Rovers under Gary Bowyer last season and he believes the side can carry that momentum forward into the forthcoming campaign.

"I'm really buzzing to be fair," said the 29-year-old.

"I didn't have a club at the end of the season after finishing at Sunderland and I wanted to come to a big club, where there were good players and good staff.

"When Blackburn came in, I talked with my family, but it didn't take long to decide that I wanted to come here.

"Just looking at some of the signings that they've made and the players that were already here and how well they finished last season, I knew that the club were going in the right direction.

"I went to see the gaffer and knew straight away that I'd get on with him and his staff, so he made it even easier for me."

One of the country's brightest defensive prospects, Kilgallon became a household name as a youngster thanks to successful spells in Yorkshire with Leeds and Sheffield United.

His promising career stalled slightly following a move to Premier League side Sunderland in January 2010 and the former England Under-21 international hopes to reignite his career here at Rovers.

"I just want to play games again," he added. "I went to Sunderland and I didn't get my chance. I didn't get to play enough, but that's in the past now and I don't want to go on about that.

"I just want to come here and hopefully get in the team and play games, like I was before I went to Sunderland.

"I was playing Saturday-Tuesday every week, so it was a bit weird for me. But I've got the chance to do that now. I just need to get into the team.

"Scott Dann and Grant Hanley played well together towards the end of last season, but I just want to try and get in the team and it's good to have a bit of competition at the club.

"It's early doors, but the way we're working at the moment and the standard in training, I don't see why we can't be pushing to be right up there.

"Even in this pre-season trip, where we are, with these facilities, you can tell that the club want to do it right.

"The stadium's massive, the fanbase is there, so let's go for it."

When Blackburn came in, I talked with my family, but it didn't take long to decide that I wanted to come here.

Matt Kilgallon

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